Open gardens

Location: Old Mill House, Sandy Lane, Henfield, West Sussex, BN5 9UX
Opening times: 11am - 5pm
Other: Light refreshments, music, art on display
Admission cost: Donations welcome

About this open garden:
Lesley Besson is opening Old Mill House as part of the Henfield Open Gardens and Arts Festival. A stunning garden surrounding the 17th century miller’s cottage. Discover the wildlife-friendly pond, mature shrubs, and the intriguing history of the sunken garden, all in a woodland setting.

An expert beekeeper will demonstrate a live bee colony in a secure hive, so the bees cannot escape! Visitors can also enjoy performances by the Pyecombe Village Choir 11.30 am - 12 and local folk singer Steve Bailey from 2 – 4 pm, view work by two local artists, and relax with homemade cakes and tea served by our amazing St Barnabas supporters.

Supporting St Barnabas House hospice.

Location: Lodge Cottage, Martyn Close, Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9QH
Opening times: 10am to 5pm
Other: Refreshments and Plant Sale:
Admission cost: Donations welcomed

About this open garden:
Penny Thomas is opening her garden as part of the Henfield Open Gardens and Arts Festival. Penny’s garden is a small secret walled garden that has a random mix of cottage garden, tropical and self-seeding plants.  A haven for slow worms, toads, the occasional hedgehog & foxes.

Supporting St Barnabas House hospice.

Opening times: 10am to 5pm
Other: Plant sale, live music, art display and local produce
Admission cost: Donations welcomed

About this open garden:
Elizabeth Taylor is opening her beautiful, colourful cottage garden as part of the Henfield Open Gardens and Arts Festival, filled with a variety of plants and flowers to delight visitors and wildlife alike. Visitors can also enjoy a musical performance by John De Little, an art display by local animal portrait artist Christine Twitchen, and delicious produce from Good Sussex Honey.

Supporting St Barnabas House hospice.

Location: Judy’s Cottage, 33 The Plantation, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 2AE
Opening times: 10am till 3.30pm
Other: No refreshments but plant sale
Admission cost Suggested donation of £5

About this open garden:
Judy Gordon has a charming, medium-sized cottage garden offering year-round interest. Mature trees create a sense of privacy, while the space has been thoughtfully designed and cared for by its owners, whose passion is clear throughout.

Informal beds are filled with a mix of shrubs, perennials, traditional cottage plants, and spring bulbs, creating a relaxed and colourful display. Hidden corners invite exploration, alongside a small fish pond and additional water features.

A delightful log cabin sits slightly elevated, perfectly positioned to take in views across the garden.

Supporting St Barnabas House hospice.

Location: 91 The Ridgeway, Woodingdean, BN2 6PB
Opening times: 11am to 5pm
Other: Plant sale, raffle, homemade cakes, unsuitable for wheelchairs
Admission cost: Donations welcomed

About this open garden:
Gill Maskell has been opening her garden since 2007 and welcomes visitors from 11am to 5pm. This well-established garden features a wide variety of trees and shrubs, a beautiful pond, and winding paths that guide you around the grounds.  Please note that, unfortunately, the paths are not suitable for wheelchairs.

Visitors can enjoy homemade cakes and cream teas in the garden or take some treats home. There will also be a plant sale and raffle.

Supporting Martlets hospice.

Location: Stanmer Park, Lewes Road, Stanmer, Brighton BN1 9PZ. What3Words: bikes.influencing.relax
Opening times: 11am to 5pm
Other: Cut flowers, tours of garden, some plants for sale
Admission cost: Donations welcomed

About this open garden:
Rona Couper has run Hearts and Flowers since 2018 when she set it up with her friend.  The social enterprise has been taking forward activities focused on promoting local growing as an alternative to the unsustainable commercial cut flower industry.  

Hearts and Flowers is based at a one-acre site at Stanmer Organics in the South Downs National Park. They provide a welcoming space for local people with barriers to nature to take part in sessions designed to boost mental and physical health.  There are lots of trees and wild birds and a wide variety of perennial and annual flowers suitable for cutting as well as a wildflower meadow.

Supporting Martlets hospice.

Location: Highdown Gardens, 33 Highdown Rise, (off Littlehampton Road), Worthing, West Sussex, BN12 6FB
Opening times: 10am to 4.30pm
Other: Awareness stand, visitor centre, picnics permitted
Admission cost: Suggested donation £5

About this open garden:
Created in the early 20th century by Sir Frederick Stern, the garden is renowned for transforming an inhospitable chalk quarry into a thriving and diverse landscape.

Highdown Gardens is a unique and tranquil chalk garden set on the edge of the South Downs above Worthing, with sweeping views towards the sea. It is home to a remarkable National Plant Collection, including rare trees and shrubs grown from seed collected on historic plant-hunting expeditions to China and the Himalayas.

Despite its horticultural significance, the garden retains an intimate and peaceful atmosphere, with hidden corners, rockeries and quiet seating areas inviting exploration and reflection.

Today, Highdown Gardens remains a beautifully maintained and accessible space, combining botanical richness with a sense of calm and seclusion, making it one of the area’s most distinctive and rewarding gardens to visit.

Supporting St Barnabas House hospice.